The allure of ultra running

Back in 2008 when I completed my first sprint triathlon, I thought an "ultra" was a football hooligan and had no idea what an ultra actually was or that I'd end up being an ultra runner.  For those of you who aren't familiar with the term, an ultra is a run which is longer than a marathon.  What I would like to convey to you in this blog, is just how special the ultra community is and how in less than 10 years I have a whole "family" of ultra runners and organisers that I can call my friends.  I'm in touch with these friends almost every day as we have shared a special adventure together.  I also hope if you are a runner you will step up to an ultra so that you experience this wonderful community for yourself.
The inaugural Ultra Race Romania, a 250km self supported race held over 7 days in the beautiful mountains of Romania, took place 2 weeks ago and due to Covid restrictions many runners either decided not to risk travelling or we not allowed to do so.  As a result there were only 13 runners.  Never the less the wonderful organisers put the race on and we were treated like rock stars before, during and after the race.
This blog is not a blow by blow account of the race and even if it was it would be relatively short as I only lasted 3 days and 100km.  I have ran 2 similar styled events before in the Sahara Desert (MDS) and the Grand Canyon (G2G) but following my non-stop 205 miles at Lake Tahoe I decided I was going to race this staged race.  It wasn't about completion, it was about pushing my limits to see how far up the leader board I could go.  I failed.  Nothing in life is guaranteed but my motto has always been "we are capable of so much more" and development only happens outside your comfort zone.  I was certainly pushing the limits and was in 3rd place after day 1 and day 2.  Unfortunately on day 3 I had stomach problems and couldn't keep down anything I put in my mouth.  If you can put fuel in your car it will grind to a halt and that's what happened.
When you are in the wilds, and judging by the fresh bear paw prints and the piles of poo I was in the wilds, you have to keep your wits about you.  Even having taken the difficult decision to pull out.  I notified the organisers via my GPS but had to walk out to somewhere they could get a 4x4 into collect me - that turned our to be 6 km later and that was an exceptionally tough walk / stager.  Pulling out was caused by 34 degrees heat, carrying 23 kilo's  (34% of my body weight) on my back and gradients of 38 degrees.  This ultra will gain the reputation of being one of, if not the hardest multi stage unsupported races of that I have no doubt.
When I describe what you go through on a multi-staged race to people they look at me as if I am mad.  Why would you want to put yourself through all that, no washing facilities (except for a couple of rivers), freeze dried food, sleeping in a tent which was never level and living out of your rucksack?  The answer is simple but needs some explanation.  It's the people and the total detox from the outside world - you are almost totally cut off, unplugged!
Most of us lead a sedentary lifestyle.  I run a business but most of my time am "driving a desk" so I wouldn't call that active or exciting although I am very privileged to do what I do.  There's plenty of stress that comes with the territory and stress really does shorten your life so we need an antidote and running is a great stress buster and has got many of us through the lockdown restrictions.  But ultra running, this takes it to a whole new level especially when it involves being unsupported and living in tents with people you haven't met before.
Back to Ultra Race Romania.  We'd been waiting for 2 years to get to Romania but had built a good relationship with the organisers; Andrea, Daniel, Edi & Beatrice before we arrived.  They had gone out of their way to reassure the runners that the race would be run safely in this Covid world - it was.  We met the other runners at dinner and as always are swapping stories about their adventures.  Soon we're swapping tips about food, strategies about the long day and the route.  Yes this is a competition but to a man and women we looked out for each other because it's in the wilderness and there are additional risks such as bears, sheep dogs (more like wolves!) and snakes if you're really unlucky!  It's not like running a race around a city.  The competitors don't display huge egos because this isn't a sport for posers.  It's too painful and you need to really want it to go through the discomfort of a race.  But the rewards are worth it.
We started as 13 strangers and within 2 days we were like a family.  This made it all the harder when I pulled out.  Sitting in the back of the car we drove past 3 runners who were now my friends.  I lent out the window and applauded them and shouted encouragement.  When they saw it was me I could see the shock in their faces and they could see the tears in mine.  I could have hidden behind the tinted glass and they wouldn't have known it was me but they deserved my support for the effort they were putting in.
Back at camp I was treated by the doctor and Gina, who had dropped out on day 1, gave me a massage.  Since dropping out she has stayed in the camp and was giving massages to the runners and even the volunteers.  What a trooper.  That couldn't have been easy as it meant she was living in the tent with the runners and then had hours of spare time to pass before she saw them again.  Just an example of the special people in this race.  Poor Iona saw a bear at the end of the first day and got such a fright she pulled out.
The next morning the long day (70km) started at 6am and I agreed, unbeknown to the runners, to sing them away (500 miles which I did every day) but dressed in my kilt.  When I showed up the place went mental with runners and volunteers wanting a picture with me.  I'd also given an interview on video and it was unbelievably hard to hold back my emotions.  This race, these people had really gotten a hold of me.  When the runners were gone the volunteers fed me - a fresh tomato brought me to tears and this was the first real food in over three days.  Man up I was saying to myself!
I made the difficult decision to leave the camp and go stay in a hotel - I needed complete rest and good food.  I felt very selfish making this decision but the organisers made all the arrangements, called some favours in to transport me more than 2 hours away.  I was also told in the 3 days I'd be away that if I needed anything, the organisers father was only a phone call away.
I was taken out to dinner by Mihai who dropped out the same day as me, his wife and their friends and Gina who had by now left the camp.  The kindness and hospitality that was shown was unbelievable.  The organisers stayed in touch and I sent all the remaining competitors an email each day to encourage them as I was following their progress online during the race.  Getting emails at night in your tent is important so I hoped they'd appreciate it, which they did.
The four DNFs were taken to the finish line for the party and a real touching gesture was that we were allowed us to present the finishing medals as our friends came across the line - more tears.  The nine finishers were all LEGENDS and had come through adversity to get to the finish line.  From Tommo's shoes failing him and him taping rubbish to his insoles, to Vince's "poles" that he fashioned from tree branches or Irina needing her survival sheet to stay warm in the storm - there were plenty more heroic stories but that's for another day.  The winner Davide finished in an incredible 38hrs 56 mins with the last runner coming in on 69hrs and 9 mins.  Unbelievable to have finished off this no matter what the time - coming through this challenge in those conditions deserves all the respect these LEGENDS should get.  I'm gutted at not being there with them but as I said at the beginning, nothing in life is guaranteed and this has been an adventure of a lifetime.
Then we partied and a unique feature of this race was two days of site seeing including Dracula's castle and Peles Castle, guided by professional guides.  What a beautiful country Romania is and how hospitable and friendly the people are.
Since arriving home, the runners have all kept in touch and we will meet up when visiting each other or at another race.  I've had plenty of time to reflect on my failure and have come to the conclusion, this has been my most successful failure.  I raced for 100km and was lying third when my stomach problems led to me withdrawing.  Could I have gone on?  I've asked myself that many times but feel if I had then I would not have survived the following day as the stomach issues continued afterwards.  It would been a risk to the race organisers had I continued. Safety first. 
The winner, and now my good friend Davide Vitali, explained to me this had happened to him four times where he DNF'd so I will be taking some advice from him in how he manages it. I had the privilege of sharing my tent with Laurent & Richard who I'd run with in G2G & Tahoe and we had a great laugh as they tried to help me with my French!  Every race has a "snorer" and Tommo was ours but his "liverpool banter" was hysterical or at least we think it was - didn't understand any of it!!  Mike & Kristine from Canada planned their race with military precision and smashed it while local "hero" Cosmin held his second position throughout the race also using a stick instead of a running pole!
All the runners have their own story as to why they were there and what they were trying to achieve.  I went wanting to race this race but came away after a life affirming adventure having been enriched by every competitor in the race. That is why I go through the discomfort of a multi-staged ultra.  I now have an extended running family, one where I know we will stay in touch and will meet up again.  It was the detox I needed and the result was totally unexpected.  None of this would have been possible without the organisers who had a dream to showcase Romania whilst raising awareness for an Autism Charity.  My final thanks goes to my wife and family who have also "lived this race" for the last two years with numerous sacrifices along the way.  They understand what ultra's mean to me and how they hopefully make me a better person.  Thanks to you all for your support.  Till the next adventure, take care.